conflict Flashcards
conflict
a process that begins when one party percieves that the other partys decisisions have effected them negatively
Tjosvold 2008
argues that conflict is an inevitable part of organizational life
- individual differences (personality clash, dominant v dominated)
conflicts arise from…
- exercise of power and politics
- management style
- decision-making processes
- structural and cultural change
psychological contracts
a lot of conflicts within organisations is driven by misalignments within the psychological contracts.
when we are hired into organisations, we have formal contracts, but also an informal contract (psychological contract):
for individuals: when we are applying / researching the organisation: tells us what to expect.
for organizations: its the first moment they interact with an individual, their CV gives us an idea of what to expect. (past jobs= shows potential skills)
stakeholder view
another source of conflict.
- stakeholders within the organisation can cause conflict (employees, suppliers…)
e.g. an organisation is trying to conduct more ethical practices, and we want our suppliers to align, but they cant offer us these products within the same cost = cause of conflict
personal v structural sources of conflict
personal:
e.g. skills & abilities, personality, values and ethics…
- difference of opinion as to what method is best - can cause conflict
- introversion and extroversion
- emotions: stress and mental health
- difference in cultures/ how they do things.
structural:
e.g. specialization, interdependence, goal difference…
what is embedded within the structure
- inconsistencies- who is in a position of authority
frame of reference
refers to the influences which structure a persons perception and interpretation of events
approaches to conflict resolution
compromise
1) you loose i win (competing)
2) you win i loose (accomodating)
3) you loose i loose (avoiding)
4) you win i win (collaborating)
